Navigating Stafford Act Programs for

Community Resilience

April 5, 2016

Stafford Act Programs

Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act

• Three major programs, jointly administered by FEMA and State/Territory/Tribe:

• Individual & Household Assistance Program

• Public Assistance Program

• Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

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Source: IPCC Fifth Assessment Report

Mitigation is any sustained action taken to reduce long-term risk to life and property from a hazard event.

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Individual & Households Program

Public Assistance Program Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

Support to individuals and families for temporary

housing, home repairs and replacement and/or the replacement of personal

property

Grant (max $32,900 FY15)

No cost share

Federally administered

Primary residents, US citizens, uninsured/underinsured

Support to governments and some PNPs for debris removal, emergency

protective measures, and the permanent repair of

infrastructure

Reimbursement program

75%/25% Cost Share

State/Territory/Tribe administered

Uninsured costs

Support to States and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation

measures

Competitive grant

75%/25% Cost Share

State/Territory/Tribe administered (set priorities)

Uninsured costs

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Driving Your Recovery

Do we already know we wanted to do something differently?

• Capital Improvements Plan

• Comprehensive Plan

• Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

• Public Works Director

• City Planner

• Floodplain Manager

• Economic Development Adviser

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Emergency Work – Debris Removal – Emergency Protective Measures Permanent Work – Roads and Bridges – Water Control Facilities

• Drainage channels, pumping facilities, and some irrigation facilities

• Levees, dams, and flood control channels (restricted eligibility)

– Buildings and Equipment – Utilities – Parks, Recreation Facilities, and Other

Facilities

FEMA Public Assistance: Eligible Activities

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“Different” Projects

Improved Projects

Applicants performing restoration work on a damaged facility may make improvements to the facility while restoring the facility to its pre-disaster condition.

The improvements must be approved by the grantee prior to construction.

The applicant is responsible for the cost of the improvements. Federal funding is limited to the cost of restoration.

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September 14, 2015

“Different” Projects

Alternate Projects

When restoration of a damaged facility or function does not serve the public welfare, an applicant may use a Public Assistance grant for another public facility.

The alternate project must be approved by FEMA prior to construction.

The alternate project may require an environmental assessment.

Federal funding is limited to 75% of the federal share of the original project estimate or actual alternate project cost (whichever is less).

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September 14, 2015

FEMA Public Assistance: 406 Mitigation

• Section 406 of the Stafford Act authorizes cost effective mitigation to eligible damaged elements of a facility

• Includes activities performed in addition to those required for applicable codes and standards

• Must directly reduce the potential of future, similar disaster damages to the eligible facility

• Must be cost effective

• Requires NEPA compliance

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FEMA Public Assistance: 406 Mitigation

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Public Assistance Eligible Facility

PA Mitigation

(406)

HMGP (404)

FEMA Public Assistance: 406 Mitigation

Must be cost effective (Disaster Assistance Policy 9526.1):

Any one of the following means may be used to determine cost effectiveness:

1. Up to 15% of the total eligible cost of the eligible repair work

2. Certain mitigation measures determined cost effective, not to exceed 100% of the eligible cost of the eligible repair work

3. For measures that exceed the above costs, benefit/cost analysis

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Action costs

Losses avoided

FEMA Public Assistance: 406 Mitigation

Examples of Pre-Approved Mitigation Measures (within 100% of cost)

Culverts—Where the alignment of culverts is inconsistent with the streams flowing through them…

Well systems—Elevation of controls, mechanical equipment, or electrical service…

Above ground storage tanks—Strengthening or stiffening base connections.

Roofs—For gable roofs damaged by wind, replace gable end-framing with hipped roof framing to reduce wind forces…

Flexible piping—Installation of flexible piping at pip/conduit connections to equipment to accommodate expected movement in an earthquake.

13 Source: Public Assistance Policy 9526.1 https://www.fema.gov/9500-series-policy-publications

FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP): • Helps ensure that the opportunity to enact mitigation

measures is not lost during the reconstruction process following a disaster

• Available after a presidentially-declared disaster

Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM): • Designed to assist in implementing a sustained pre-disaster

natural hazard mitigation program

Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA): • Goal is to reduce or eliminate claims under the National Flood

Insurance Program (NFIP) • FMA provides funding for projects that reduce or eliminate

long-term risk of flood damage to structures insured under the NFIP

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Think Big!

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STRUCTURAL PROJECTS

Acquisition

Elevation

Retrofits

Drainage

PLANNING MECHANISMS

Zoning Codes

Ordinances

Open Space Plan

Pre-Disaster Recovery Plan

EDUCATION & OUTREACH

Public Awareness

Outreach

Educational Programs

NATURAL RESOURCE

PROTECTION

Stream and Wetland

Restoration

Erosion Control

Strategic Approach

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Early Priorities

Planned

Exciting

Well-Managed

Results-Driven

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Maximizing Resources

• Early Priorities

• Critical to community

• Innovative action

• Enables further planning

• Make a Plan

• Vision

• Public participation

• Action Plan

• Comprehensive Financial Strategy

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Maximizing Resources

• Exciting

• Attract investment!

• Well-Managed

• Leverage Multiple Funding Sources

• Identify match resources

• Financial documentation and procurement

• Results-Driven

• Return on Investment

• Celebrate successes

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Recap

Develop a pre-disaster recovery plan

Drive recovery based on existing plans and priorities

Use Capital Improvement, Hazard Mitigation, and Comprehensive Planning

Identify opportunities in project scope of work early (e.g. improved, alternate, 406 mitigation)

Take a strategic approach. Develop a post-disaster recovery plan and comprehensive financial strategy to support it

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Training Resources

Online Courses:

• Public Assistance • IS-634: Introduction to FEMA’s Public Assistance Program --

(https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=is-634)

• Hazard Mitigation Grant Program • IS-212.A: Introduction to Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance

(HMA) –3 hours (https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-212.a)

• Individual Assistance • IS-403: Introduction to Individual Assistance (IA)—1.5 hours

(https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-403)

Ask for Help:

• County and State Emergency Management

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